Hyderabad, India  March 13-14, 2007

1. Application of Social Accountability Mechanisms in Community Driven Development and Decentralization Programs in South Asia: Experiences from Pilot Projects Hyderabad, India  March 13-14, 2007

2. Stocktaking of Social Accountability Initiatives Karen Sirker  World Bank Institute March 13, 2007

3. Objectives of Stocktaking • Extend the knowledge base on social accountability tools and mechanisms for possible strategies for Bank and non-Bank operations because in the past ten years, • CSOs capacity to undertake social accountability initiatives has been strengthened dramatically, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. • In Asia and Latin America, there is an increased capacity and willingness of government to undertake SAc initiatives. • Create a network of practitioners • Document initiatives • Create a platform for disseminating information on social accountability (SAc) initiatives

4. Where

5. The Asia Region

6. Asia Region

7. Asia Region

8. The Asia Region

9. Asia Region- Information and Communication Technology • Text messaging database – using cell phones to report graft (Philippines) • News Databases – scans news articles about corruption cases and valuable tool for investigative work on expenditure tracking (Bangladesh) • Website for Congress – monitor pork barrel spending by legislators and reprints in-depth articles (Philippines) • Dept of Budget and Management website - posts blacklisted contractors (Philippines) • E-procurement – makes public procurement transparent by providing information on bids, compare prices by different suppliers (South Korea) • On-Line Grievance Redressal Tracking System – facilitate the lodging and monitoring of grievances online, provide information to municipal corporation, to enforce time frame and quality for service delivery. (India) • E-Seva – computerized kiosk to handle 100 services, ranging from utilities such as electricity, transport, water, hospitals, municipal corporations, getting birth certificates, paying examination fees (India)

10. Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Western Balkans: Types of SAc tools Applied • At the local level participatory, budgeting and broad participatory initiatives are more common. • There are also examples (although rare) of independent budget analysis and participatory performance monitoring. Independent budget analysis is prevalant at the national level. Why? The challenge of building the capacity of local CSOs to perform more demanding tasks of independent budget analysis and citizen reports cards. • Local NGOs and public associations are clearly leading the process of institutionalizing citizens’voice and promoting good governance in the region. • While local NGOs are the primary implementing agencies; international NGOs and international development organizations have a sizable share in overall program implementation.

11. Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Western Balkans

12. Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Western Balkans: • City Budget Monitoring (Kazakhstan) • Extractive Agency Transparency Initiative, EITI (Kazakhstan) and Comparative budget analysis: Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan • Kazakhstan Revenue Watch (Kazakhstan) • Open Budget Kazakhstan • Public Expenditure Monitoring: Economic Governance and Public Finance (Georgia) • Increasing Budget for Education (Albania) • Revenue & Expenditure Analysis (Albania) • Financing of NGOs by the Government (Macedonia) • Assessing the Implementation of the Decentralization Process in Albania: The case of Elbasan Municipality (Albania) • Tirana Municipality Transparency Program (Albania) • Monitoring of Local Authorities (Macedonia)

13. Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Western Balkans Given the prominence of administrative, political and fiscal decentralization, the majority of civic engagement aimed at strengthening government accountability happens at the sub-national or local level. Among the 75 initiatives, 49 are implemented at the sub-national/local level, and 20 – at national level. About half of the local level initiatives are carried out at the city/town level.

14. Organization of Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) • OECD and World Bank take complimentary approaches: • World Bank – accountability relies on civic engagement • OECD/GOV – approach to building “open” government • Classification: • Scrutiny:enhance assessment, analysis and review of government actions • Proximity: aims to reduce the distance between citizen and government by identifying citizens needs and preferences • Engagement:incorporates citizens in the decision making process • Results: • Strengthens government transparency, accessibility and responsiveness

16. Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development - Initiator • The majority of the initiatives reviewed are driven by government institutions, and aim at obtaining feedback from the citizens. • This is the case of the National Consultation on Education Policies in Czech Republic, or the e-Games in Hungary, a government Internet platform where citizens can interact with public officials. • Most of the CSO-led initiatives aim to subject governments to direct public scrutiny, as is the case of the Quarterly Bulletin of Public Finances in Poland.

17. Anglophone Africa

18. Latin America: Ecuador

19. Latin America: Ecuador

20. Considerations from Stocktaking ASIA • Encourage regional networking • Continue adaptation and contextualization. • Continue innovation in Information and Communication Technology • Importance of communication and advocacy strategies AFRICA and LATIN AMERICA • Ensure capacity building • Ensure financial resources and equipment for sustainability • Build partnership with government, private sector and CSOs. EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA • Ensure local ownership • Ensure access to information OECD • Choose a topic, clarify objectives, and communicate them effectively to raise public awareness include relevant and reliable information • Ensure feedback and follow-up • Learn to evaluate and evaluate to learn

21. Stocktaking Template Name of intervention • Basic information • Location • Primary agency running intervention • Sector or level of focus • Type of engagement (one time or long term) • Context and scope • What is the driving force behind the SA initiative? • What are the main objectives and what key accountability problems does it seek to address? • Who is the target audience or demographic focus? • What is the political culture or environment? • SA tool used • What specific SA tools and methodologies are being used? • Briefly describe the methodology(ies) or tools used. • What advocacy and media activities support the initiative? • How inclusive was the intervention? • Other important information or comments

22. Stocktaking Template • Problems and challenges • What has impeded progress or what obstacles and hindrances were encountered? • Results and outcome • What (if any) has been the impact of the initiative? What have been the incentives? • What (if any) has been the outcome of the initiative? What have been the incentives? • Is the methodology or initiative institutionalized? Are there any institutional linkages and have partnerships been established with the government, parliaments, media, nongovernmental organizations, communities, etc.? Describe. • (If applicable) Has the initiative been scaled up? Repeated? • Further references • Documents and reports • Web sources • Resource persons/contacts

23. Key Websites • SASANET • Tools • Knowledge Base (Articles, Presentations, Videos) • Case Studies • Pilot Projects • Social Accountability Sourcebook • Quick Access by region, tools and methods, and thematic applications • World Bank and External Websites • Manuals/Toolkits/Guides • World Bank Institute SAc Site • http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/WBI/EXTSOCACCDEMSIDEGOV/0,,contentMDK:21100247~pagePK:64168445~piPK:64168309~theSitePK:2872075,00.html

24. For any queries please contact Sanjay Agarwal sagarwal2@worldbank.org or Karen Sirker Ksirker@worldbank.org